The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 4, 1904, Page 8

FRANCISCG CALL, INST RUCT IVE J‘TUDIN‘ % Cossacks of the Don. NETT WRIGHT. of the Past'” ) BY FREDERICK BE! (Amsociste Igitor ecords Washington, D. 1904, by Joseph B. Bowles) The Russian army is composed of two principal elements, the ordinary soldier, recruited from the peasanis, Copyrigh: and the Cossacks of the Don. The larger part of the soldiers guarding the Chinese Eastern Railroad in Man- churia belong to the Cossacks of the Don, who form a very interesting and exceedingly effective army. Before the completion of the Chinese Eastern Rail- road I had the pleasure of coming in close contact with these Cossacks, sleeping with them, eating black bread with them, and talking with them in broken language, illustrated by ges- tures The interest now centering in Man- churia brings the Cossacks into promi- nence and makes a short history of the development of this class of sol- diers specially interesting. The term Cossack as now used signifies any Rus- sian sent into a new section of coun- try to settle as an emergency guard ready for action in case of trouble. He is expected to have a horse, a gun and = blanket always at hand, ready for an immediate start. Of all the classes of Cossacks the most interesting are those of the Don, whose importance is such that they are much better paid than the ordi- nary soldier, and are, allowed much more freedom and their towns a cer- tain degree of independence. During the time that Southern Rus- sia was infested by the Tartar hordes they lived as “free settiers,” carrying on nomadic marauding warfare against the tribes of the great khan. At the first they practiced celibacy and recruited their ranks from the outlaws of Moscow and Northern Russia. At that time they did no agricultural work or cattle raising. In fact, death was the penalty for following such pursuits. They depended entirely on raiding the Tartar's flocks and herds and did not always restrict themselves to these, but often carried off the prettiest of the maidens, which accounts for the slight mixture of Tartar bleod in the present Cossacks. Later when raiding became less profitable they made use of the im- migrants and runaway serfs from the north for raising agricultural pro- ducts, while they themselves lived by aristocratic occupations such as fish- ing. hunting and cattle breeding. So- cially they were all equal. Any one could hold office, and at the expirs tion of his term he would cheerful return to the rank of ordinary Cos- sack. As the number of inhabitants increased, however, they were gradu- ally forced to agricultural pursuits. At first every one plowed and sowed where he pleased, changing his loca- tion whenever the soil became ex- hausted. Later the richer and more enterprising began not only to culti- wvate, but to appropriate large sections of land. Out of this so many disputes arose between the rich and the poor that at last the commune, which still held to the old ideas of equality, con- fiscated all the land and inaugurated a system of distribution which, with some slight changes, is still used. The liberties of self government which they formerly possessed have been gradually curtailed, and some of the offices have become hereditary, but still they enjoy many democratic privileges which the Czar dare not take away from them, for they are his strongest military forée. When in active service for the Government they receive much larger wages than the ordinary Russian Cossack. A colonel with whom we traveled for some time received 3000 rubles ($1500) a vear. My first personal acquaintance with the Cossacks of the Don was at Teil- ing, in Manchuria, where the colonel of the Cossack regiment, stationed zlong the southern section of the .. Chinese Eastern Railroad, had his * headquarters. The little settlement of engineers and Cossacks is located two piles outside of the Chinese city of Teiling, and consists of several long one storied brick houses with straw- ikatched roofs, arranged around a central court. Near by are.the bar- racks where the Cessacks and their . milies live. The stables are adjoin- ing and too near the living rooms to suit ‘me, but as the Cossack and his horse are one it probably does not @isturb him. There was a general bakery, where we were able to buy seme large round Joaves of black bread to help out our Chinese diet as we proceeded on our way across Manchuria. At the gen- eral store, which provided for the Cos- sacks and engineers, you could buy California canned fruits, Crimean wine, American beer and cigarettes, while a small stand near by retailed “guass,” a beer used by the Russian there were several primitive devices for amusement. The principal one was a high pole surmounted by a plied with an arrangement for shoe- ing horses—a, cess which furnishes the boys considerable amusement. The Mongol ponies they use here are no trained to stand for shoeing and so an elaboraté apparatus of heavy beams is needed which very much resembles the old method of shoeing oxen'in this country. The horse is driven between four upright posts, then two .broad canvas bands are passed under him £0 that he can be raised half off from the ground. While thus partially | suspended his feet are tied to the posts ; and his head securely fastened, so that he can be shod in safety: . The Cossack colonel at Teiling and | chief of the Hanehnrlqn l!lezraphl lines, Mr. Ghenche, so arranged thirgs | for us that'we could have the cum-; pany of two of their guards as Jong | as we followed the line of uncomplet- | ed Chinese Eastern Railroad, where | they could relay from station to sta- | tion. We found these Cossacks of the | | Don who' acted as our guards very thoughtful of our wants. They would drive ahead and pick out the best road for our Chinese carts, which is an im- portant matter, for the roads are ©x- tremely . indefinite, varyving in width | from six feet to one-half mile. They would also drive off the dogs, which is no small service, and keep the beggars at a respectful distance. At one time | we saw them in their element. A number of Chinese bandits attacked |a baggage traln just ahead of us | which was guarded by four Cossacks. | At first the Cossacks’ horses were stampeded by the sudden, unexpected attack, but reinforced by our two guards, they fixed bayonets and by | charging the Chinese easily routed | them. l For all these services they did not expect fees, and in fact flatly refused them. One of our guards even went | so far as to treat us. After such at- tentions as these we were totally un- prepared for the demands for fees which the Chinese guards, whom we had later, made on us. These latter were absolutely useless as guards or guides, and yet at the end of the day | calmly presented their bill as if they had not been paid for their services by the Government. The character of the Chinese soldier and the Cossack is reflected in their dress. One has flowing robes and long fingernails. while the other is dressed in coarse blouse and trousers, with heavy knee boots, and has calloused hands. At every camp we would take ou!‘ our map and show the Cossacks vh(h’l we came from and where we were so-y ing. Then we would point out the Don | River and read the names of some of | |the towns along there. This always | drew a crowd, and they would trace the course by which they came from the rich valley of the Don to Odessa, and from there by boat through the Bosphorus and the Suez canal, nruumlI India and up to Port Arthur in Man- | churia or the beautiful harbor of Vlad- | ivostok. They were certain that there | was no place in the world like the val- | ley of the Don. And it surely is one of the most fertile, prosperous and at- tractive sections in Russia. Some of their quarters were very in- teresting, and strongly réminded me of a typical American college boy's room, but on a cheaper scale. Chromos, | Chinese wall pictures, groups of*cigar- ette pictures, swords and guns were profusely hung around on the walls. | Over one of the old-fashioned pictures of a naval battle a dirty towel was' carefully draped, while in the window were some plants. Beds and chests filled most of the room, so that chairs were not needed. The generally con- fused order and haphazard arrange- | | ment of things bespoke the “lack of | woman's nursing,” for none of these Coessacks had their families with them. | However, in some of the more perm- | anent quarters many of their families | are found. | A close inspection of the small plc(-! ures revealed the fact that they were! all celebrated American stage beauties | collected from packages of American’ cigdrettes. In a corner of the room was the omnipresent accordion, which | furnished all kinds of music, from the | grand national hymn to the liveliest | kind of jigs for their clog dances. ! Every one seems to be able to play the | accordion, yet they have their recog- nized artists, who provide most of the | music. Many of their folk songs which | we heard were very effective, especially as you cannot help but enter into the enthusiasm of the singers. On the shores of Lake Baikal we met several thousand of these Cossacks on their way to Manchuria, and just ot sunset a regiment of 1500 men lined up in front of a precipitous cliff and ren- dered their evenipg' chant. Although the liné was over:200 yards long there was no wavering in the time from one end to the other and the effect was sublime. After the evening chant the men divided into general groups, the smaller of which was gathered around an accordion, which playved for all kind of dances. But the larger crowd gath- ered around a group of singers, who rendered a number of folk songs, a style of music in which the Russian nation is exceedingly rich.” After one group had sung from twenty minutes to half an hour another group would start and sing about the same length of time. Few of the songs were repeated, and most of them formed a sort of round with a large number of verses. I have never heard a college glee club sing in better unison or with as good expres- sion as did these improvised glee clubs formed among the soldiers. In all our dealings with the Cossacks of the Don we found them very kind and sociable. However, I presume that, like the gypsies, in “loving and hating their passions are strong,” and that when in their company it is well to keep on friendly terms with them. Their history has not been such as always mmlhemuertmootdur. yet one cannot but be at- H | been proposed to cut’a canal through one ,_recl;mnonnonmwm@mm“ )onnn.smans,hmx........ THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL . Address All Communications to JOHN McNAUGHT, Manager B T TER RIS TERTR RO FRIDAY, MARCH Publication Office @ ceireeseees .ol Third and Market Streets S. F. s T Ter Ty A SR R DI T B R R R R R R T TRADE IN MANCHURIA. HE report of Mr. Miller, American Consul at the T Russian city of Harbin, in' Manchuria, discloses commercial conditions” that are not reassuring to Americans. Our expectations of trade have centered in Manchuria and North China. The resources of Man- churia are very great, and their development implies im- portant commercial exchanges.. When we achieved our position in the Pacific we had the right to assume that we would have free access to our share of these exchanges. But, taking advantage of the Boxer war to occupy Man- churia with a great army, Russia has practically closed the whole province against us. Consul Miller says that our trade has disappeared and one looks in vain through ‘the markets of that city of 120,000 people for an article of American manufacture. Even American beer, once largely imported to that part of China, has been crowded out. It is an agricultural region, and formerly our farm machinery was growing in use. Now it is taboo, with the resthof our manufactures. Qur primacy of the Pacific is a vain thing if Eastern Asia is to be closed against us. We cannot hope for much commerce with French Indo-China, nor the Straits Settlements, nor farther or hither India. In all those regions we have been preceded by European influence, which controls everything. Our commercial hopes were centered in China, in all of China, not as a Russian de- pendency, monopolized by the Muscovite, but as an au- tonomous empire. Now that the first point penetrated by our commerce is closed against us by-Russia, we have a foretaste of what will happen if the Czar is victorious over Japan. A great deal of loose talk is indulged in about our fel- lowship with Great Britain, in our Oriental policy, There is no alliance with Great Britain nor will there be. It is unnecessary. It suffices for us to know that wherev- er Great Britain is, in Eastern Asia, there is an open door for trade, which is all we ask. In that respect the policy of Russia is the exact antithesis of that of Great Britain. Russia means the closed door, and closed’ expressly against us. For evidence of this, Manchuria and Harbin are sufficient. Our access to China is natural. It is by water to her coasts and by water up her great rivers, touching all the passible termini of railroads on those streams. The ac- cess of Russia is artificial, by railway over a long and costly transit. The difference in cost of transportation ; alone gives us a natural advantage, but this is nullified by the processes described by Consul Miller. In the day of their construction our transcontinental railways were the longest in the world, but they were not used to ob- struct international trade. Russia uses ‘her trans-Siberian road as an obstruction instead of a facility, and it is a factor in working out her political ambition to become the mistress of the world, through Her primacy of China and the subjugation of Korea and Japan. We are now acting as trustee of the world’s commerce in digging the Panama canal. It was expected that it would supply a facility for our own commerce with | China, and would enhance our inte-est in the Pacific to an extent justifying the cost of that great work. If we get what we expect out of it, with Russia’s Manchurian policy applied to all Eastern Asia, we would like to know how it is to be done. All of these things are clearly comprehended at Wash- ington. Secretary Hay was acting in the interest of Amer- ican commerce and prosperity when he secured the as- sent of Europe to the open doc: in China, and his recent | note to secure the independence and sovereignty of China s a necessary sequence of his open door idea. The ad- ministration at Washington is placed in a very difficult position by Russia. The benefit of all that has happened sirice 1898 hangs upon the victory of Japan. If she win, our trade is safe, our sacrifices are justified and the Pa- nama canal is worth its cost. If she lose, we lose. American sympathy is guided by intelligent compre- hension of American interests. All that we have ex- pected or had the right to expect was free competition for Chinese trade. We do not propagate our commerce with armies nor promote it with gunpowder., We have no desire to forcibly monopolize international /markets. If we gain their control it is by the quality and price of our products. Russia’s policy is different. It is offensive. It is monopoly secured by ‘guile and guarded by armies. She is using a page out of the history of Napoleonic am- bition. Give her the mastery of the five hundred millions of people in Eastern Asia, for which she is now fighting, and she will control the world. Napoleon thought he had achieved that control when he issued the Berlin decree, forbidding all fhations the right to trade with Great Britain, and threatening them with the vengeance of France ff they disobeyed him. It was a high ambition and a majestic defiance, but he jacked the power to enforce it. Give Russia the power she is seeking and she can issne a decree from St. Pe- tersburg that will stop the wheels and draw the fires in two-thirds of the mills of the United States, and disuse the labor of millions of Americans. It may be said by an optimist, “If that is done; we will defend ourselves by war.” Yes, war with a power that will control nearly half the population and two-thirds of the natural resources of the planet; that will occupy a practically invulnerable continental position, with no out- posts that can be struck at, and with internal lines of communication that we cannot reach. To the far-sighted it is now apparent that it is not well for the world to have one master. If that come, even the short-sighted will be made to understand. In a dispatch, not long enough to give a mediocre prize-fighter an opportunity to express his preliminary- opinion of himself, we received a few days since the in- formation that bundreds of Chinese had been drowned in floods that swept the land. Observers took no note of how many hundreds nor of the conditions of this great disaster. It depends upow/ whom you are for the world to care whether you live or die. TO PREVENT FLOODS. OVERNOR PARDEE has observed the pre.ggng G floods in the Sacramento River, .and has reached conclusions as to their cause. No doubt the re- clamation of la: islands in the Stcrnmento has had the: effect of nmarrodwing the stream, so that its outflow is choked. This prevents the rapid escape of flood waters into Suisun Bay, raises the level of the " mhd-ltrélm ud overflows-the devees just below Sacramento, . One remedy, which we believe. is indorsed W gnm- neers, is to draw off the flood ¥aters into Yolo hsin, and discharge them below the engfl‘fltfl“w If hds also e of the large |of the river near the mouth of the San Joaquin. This i plan is ob)cctewf to by the owners of reclaimed lands on the south glde of the San Joaquin. Those reclamations do not obstruct the flow ‘of that river, as is shown in the present emergency. It is able to carry off all the water that has broken thie levees on its north side, and not a levee on the south side has broken. To discharge all the Sacramento floods into the San Joaquin will overtax it, and will have the further effect [ of shoaling its mouth with silt, to the destruction of nav- igation. It will also doubtless injure all the large re- ¢lamations on the sloughs and _the channels of Old River and False River, on the south side. all obstruct the main river and have not the slightest agency in gorging the Sacramiento, their owners have a legal defense against damage incurred by correcting the Sacramento at thei expense. The capacity of the lower reaches of the Sacramento can be increased by other means than sending its floods ! into the San Joaquin. It is possible to do this by a drainage channel cunt in the main shore on the north. When the present flood subsifles and the losses caused Ly it are ascertained, the owners of the lands to be bene- fited by these corrective measures can estimate the con- | tribution they can afford to make to secure safety in the future. cne flood are almost sufficient to secure permanent pro- tection, if their amount be diverted to that purpose. One thing is sure, as a matter of legal right, that pro- tective measures must be, in part at least, at the expense of those who will be benefited by them, and not, as in the case of a south side discharge, at the cost of those who will be injured. The reclamations on the south side of the San Joaquin are as important and valuable as those that obstruct the Sacramento, and they have the great advantage of leaving the main river as free as it always was, thus causing no damage to any land anywhere. Un- der such circumstances they must be considered in all plans for throwing the more dangerous river over into the channel of the one that is harmless. The present floods offer a splendid opportunity for the study of cause and remedy. Of this engineers will, no doubt, take advantage, and out of existing misfortune may issue cfficient preventives, that will save the present losers from further misfortune, without invoiving in fu- ture trouble any who are now exempt. A comic valentine, one of those atrocities of alleged American humor in which the idiotically inclined among us indulge once a year, has provoked a local divorce suit in ‘which the husband is the alleged o@ender. A man who will send you a comic valentine would poison your prize dog. He is a menace to peace-loving com- munities. W the Russo-Japanese war it is surprising how widespread is the ignorance of the causes that led up to the present trouble or of the beginning and the long duration of the bitter struggle between China and Russia for the possession and control of Manchuria. Dalny, for instance, is continually figuring in the war dispatches. How many know the remarkable history of Dalny; how it was built almost in a day, as it were, by the iron will of the Russian Emperor as part and parcel of the present intrigne. And how many know why, after building such a splendid seaport at the very entrance of the broad domains he has been striving so long to ab- sorb, the Russian Emperor left Dalny absolutely unforti- fied by either naval or military forces until the first blow had been struck by Japan.- All of this is interesting read- ing, which the Sunday Call Magazine presents in authen- tic detail next Sunday. Indeed it throws many entertain- ing side lights on the present strife. And in view of the oft repeated prediction of the pos- sibility of the other European powers, England particu- larly, becoming involved in war, the Sunday Call pre- sents an article by the Earl of Meath, wherein he gives some startling facts about the deterioration of British health and physique, and some equally impressive com- parisons with the men and women of other nations. Coming from one so widely known as the Earl of Meath this article at this time has a peculiar significance. One of the most exasperating difficulties about follow- ing the war news is the uncertainty about the correct pro- nunciation of the Chinese and Japanese,names. The handy Japanese glossary on the new scrap-book page in the next Sunday Call is designed particularly to help the bewildered reader. And by the way there are many other timely and unique features on that same scrap- book page. Then there are two full page photographs of a “Multi- ple Color Girl” and California’s prize baby that are beau- tiful and pleasing examples of modern press work. In- deed the attractiveness of these two pages has never been surpassed even in the Sunday Call. 3 In- the line of high-class literature there is a splen- did: array to choose from. First there is the second installment of Geraldine Bonner’s intensely dramatic California novel,. “To-morrow’s Tangle,” for the exclu- SUNDAY CALL FEATURES. ITH all that has been and is being printed about | sive Western rights of which the Sunday Call paid $1000; a full page of “half-hour storiettes” by some of the best writers of fiction in America; the “Me-ows of a Kitty, by Kate Thyson Marr; a “Fable for the Foolish,” by Al- bert Britt; “A Foreign Office Romance,” by A. Conan Doyle, which also gives some of the entertaining secrets of the diplomacy that always precedes and follows a big war: “The Recollections and Reflections of Thomas Fitch”; “How Literary New York Has Captured a Cali- fornia Boy,” by Sarah Comstock, etc., etc. Add to this a hook page that reviews the latest bmks and the personality of the writers and it will be readily seen what an unusual variety and wide scope the Sunday Call Magazine presents. Wi@hln'gton seems to consider the incident closed since Russia has expressed her conviction that the com- mander of the Vicksburg did not shock the world by conduct that would h!ve’outnged an Apache’s sense of humanity. Washington is too easily satisfied. Let Uncle Sam keep the affair of active, agitated moment un- til the malignant liars who circulated the slander of Chemulpa are exposed and their motives revealed. We have some fn&ds we may well afford to lose. The Board of Health has suddenly discovered that its corps of food inspectors is notoriously lax in the per- formance- of its duties. It is unfortunate that the board did not take time to inform the public what these inspec- tors in practice are expected to do. They have served Mt‘f’ ornaments and have not been mcuhr!y suc- cessful «u in that capacity =~ ¢ As these do not at | Then it will be seen that the losses inflicted by | TALI\ Of Child’s Faith. Sickness _had left its stamp on his baby face. From infancy he had been !a patient little sufferer from spinal trouble brought abeut by a fall from the arms of a careless nurse. His parents watched over him with jeal- ous eyes and hoped against hope. Physicians had told them that he would never be strong or healthy, but | théy sought to console themselves with the belief that the men of | science were mistaken and that their | darling would outgrow his injury. { Their Jove and hope blinded them to i the sad fact that his life was slowly ! going out. He was :oaled‘ at an open window one day when an Italian vender passed the house with a string of toy balloons. The little fellow watched him with a wistful eye, and his | mother, noting his interest in the toys, asked him if he would like one of them. An affirmative answer sent | her hurrying to the front door to call | back the Italian. The balloon afforded great amuse- ment to the child for a time and made him forget his pain. Finally he got tired of it and became drowsy. The thread slipped through his finger and the balloon shot out of the window. | Quietly he watched with wondering eyes its unward course, and when it had disappeared from view he turned to his mother and cheerfully lisped, “It's don to Dod. mamma.” He'll mind it for me, won't he?” His mother, pleased that he had taken his loss so uncomplainingly, did not disturb his childish belief and promised to buy him another balloon { when next the vender called around. That night the little fellow was at- tacked by membranous croup and the family physician, who had been hurriedly summoned, could hold out no hope to the grief-stricken parents. Just as day was dawning he began to sink rapidly, and the poor mother, in- consolable in her grief, threw her- self on the bed beside him. Hearing the half-suppressed sobs of the mother he feebly extended his little hand until it caressed her neck. “Don’t cry, mamma,” he chokingly whispered. “I'm going to get my bal- loon and T'll tell Dod how kind you and papa are.” The frail little hand fell back on the counterpane, one convulsive move- ment shook the poor weak frame and the physician, accustomed though he was to such sad parting scenes, bowed his head and wiped his eyes as he whispered, “He is at rest.” Survival of the Fittest. Just as a number of prominent at- torneys were entering a restaurant a few days ago they were approached by a seedy old man, whose appearance indicated that his bedraggled condi- tion was due to indulgence in drink. All the attorneys spoke to him: and quickened their 'steps, knowing through long experience that the old man would ask them for money, which, if forthcoming, he invariably spent for liquor. The old man’'s eyes glistened when he saw the attorneys trying to get away from him and a look of shame came on his face. Then he smiled, for one of the lawyers, one of the oldest and mest prominent in town, stopped, turned, spoke pleas- antly and shook hands with him, leaving a half-dollar in the shaking palm. “I can never, pass the old man by,” said the attorney when he joined his companions. “He gave me a little advice twenty-five years ago that went a long way toward help- ing me along. It was just after I had been admitted to practice, when he was in his prime and as sober and smart a man as could be found in a day's journey. One day I won a par- ticularly hard case, and went with my client into a saloon to get a drink in celebration of the victory. The old man, who was present in court when the jury gave the verdict for which I had fought so hard, saw me coming out. He called me to one side, put his hand on my shoulder and in a fatherly way said: “ ‘“Youngster, it's in you to win many a verdict, but you want to keep away from saloons.”” Takes Issue With George. “SAN FRANCISCO, March 3, 1904. “Editor of The Call—Dear Sir: I see in your morning's paper an article from Herbert George of the Citizens’ Alliance of Denver, stating that through the efforts and work of the Citjzens' Alliance industrial peace now reigns in Colorado. I want to say that Mr. George's statement Is not true; that articles in your own papers go to show there is still industrial war in Colo- rado; that the industries of the entire State are paralyzed. The smelter in- dustry as well as the coal industry and the mining industry are completely tied up. Thousands of men are out of employment. Business house after business house has been compelled to close its doors. During the last thirty days two of the largest supply houses in Vietor, Cclo., have gone out of busi- ness and most of the small stores have closed their doors in the Cripple Creek district. “This is on account of the Citizens’ Alliance being organized in that camp, and the unions establishing their co- operative stores are doing the busi- ness of the Cripple Creek district. This state of affairs that exists in Colorado has been brought about to a great ex- tent by the business men foliowing Mr. George’s tactics. I want to say to the citizens of California that if they want to avoid the conditions that exist in Colorado they want to refrain from following Mr. George, as he will cer- tainly create an industrial war here the same as they have in Colorado if his tactics are used. Although Mr George says that everything is pros- perous in Colorado, I know it to be the reverse—that the entire busi- ness of the State is paralyzed—and I ‘know whereof I speak, as I am an old eitizen of Colorado, have been in b_s. tinue in the prosperity that they are mow enjoying that they conduct their THE TOWI;J/ L business themselves instead of listen~ ing to Mr. George. “W. H. LEONARD, “Formerly in the coal business in Colo= rado.” The Gypsy Wind. The gypsy wind goes down the night I hear him lilt his wander-call; And to the old divine delight Am I a thrall. It's out. my heart, beneath the stars Along the hill-ways dim and deep! Let those who will, behind dull bars, Commune with sleep! For me the freedom of the sky, The violet castnesses that seem Packed with a sense of mystery And brooding dream! For me the low solicitudes The tree-tops whisper each to each; The silences wherein intrudes No mortal speech! For me far subtler fragrances Than the magician morn transmut2sy And minstrelsies and melodies From fairy lutes! My cares—the harrying brood take flights My woes—they lose their galling sting; When I, with the hale wind of night, Go gypsying. —Clinton Séollard in Century. Iron Ore m Africa. In addition to the gold and diamond mi of Africa, iron promises to be an important industry, as the first blast furnace has just been erected near Pre- toria, on the line of the railway, and is located in the center of irom de- posits and in proximity to coal sup- plles. The furnace, which will have a weekly capacity of 500 tons of pig- iron, is to be followed by rolling mills and a steel converting plant. The nat- ural advantages attending this enter- prise seem very great, as in addition to iron ore and coal there is plenty of limestone, which is required in the process of smelting, in the. neighbor- hood. The ore is of the hematite and magnetite variety ana runs 538 to 62 per cent of metalic iron. A survey above ground and cross-cutting indi- cate that there - -e some 62,000,000 tons of iron in sight. There is also man- ganese ore in Africa, and if the ex- ploitation of the various mines is cessful there should be important eco- nomic changes. Africa requires from Europe and America machinery, rails, etc., which could be constructed from native materials if adequate manu- ufactures were developed.—Harper's Weekly. Canada’s Sea. Hudson Bay is the third largest ine closed marine sea in the world, being next in size to the Mediterranean Sea and the Caribbean Sea, and a bill is now before the Ottawa Parliament to change its name to the Canadian Sea, “for good political and national rea- sons, and to assert Canadian suprem- acy over the waters of the bay and the adjoining territory.” American whalers from New Bedford, Mass., are practically the only people wheo have frequented the bay for the last thirty years. Answers to Queries. IMMIGRATION—Subscriber, Los Ba- nos, Cal. The number of immigranta that reached-.the United States during 1903 was 895,148, of which 633,166 were males and 261,982 females. TEACHING—A Subscriber, City. There is no law in San Francisco that will prevent a person from giving pri- vate lessons in grammar because such person has not a diploma from a Staie normal school or a university. HOMESTEAD—RB, City. Aman who takes up a homestead under the laws of the United States must reside upon the land continuously and cuiltivate the same for a period of five years. He can- not take up the land, rent it to some one and live elsewhere. BATHS—A. F, City. All full baths, except the war:, are better in the morning or forenoon than in the af- ternoon. A ful] bath should never be taken until three hours after a meal and nothing should be eaten until an hour after the bath. ART INSTITUTE—A. S, Centerville, Cal. The Mark Hopkins Institute of Art in San Francisco is open daily from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., and an admis- sion fee of 25 cents is charged, except on the first Friday in each month, when there is no charge for admission. TO COLOR GRASSES—Subscriber, City. The following is given as the process for coloring grasses and moss: For pink, take logwood and ammonia, boil together in water; for red, log- wood and alum; for blue, indige, and all other c.larl thaf will dissolve. RUSSTAN FAMINE-D. L. G., City. During the Russian famine, 1891-2, the steamers Indiana, Missouri, Conemaugh and Tynehead left the United States with provisions contributed by Ameri- cans for the relief of the distressed. The Conemaugh. the vessel inquired about, left Philadelphia April 23, 1892, and landed her cargo at Riga. —————— Townsend's California glace fruits and